JAMIA MASJID: SHOPIAN
The most important building of Shopian town, religious as well as archacological reasons, is the Jamia Masjid, situated in the centre of the main market of Shopin. lt has a courtyard, arched entrances and spires like the Jamia Masjid of Srinagar, but the entire edifice is only 65 years old.
Jama Masjid mosque is said to have been built during the Mughal period. Shopian was an important stopover on the Mughal road across the Pir Panjal used by the Mughals to visit Kashmir. The earlier and old mosque was also built on road side on a sloping and dominating height. The mosque was gutted repeatedly. The style and design of old mosque was resembling with Tibetian Pagodas but contrary to it the floor of the mosque was straight sloping- covered wih clay spread over the burza. The wooden work in the interiors of the mosque was a master piecce which had pinjrakari and jafri and the timber used was wholly of Deodar species.Modern Jamia Masjid at Shopian has been built by the locals on the design and style of Jamia Masjid Srinagar. Foundation stone of this mosque was laid in 1944 and completed within few years. ltems from the old mosque were utilised in the new structure.
Till December 1987, the Jamia Masjid was purely a Masjid and no Ziarat was present inside its complex. Mirwaiz Moulvi Abdul Hamid, somehow managed one relic hair of Hazrarat Imam Hussain as well as one of Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani. Since January 1988, the same is reportedly housed in the Jamia Masjid, Shopian.
